Furniture-caster



(No Model.)

W. E. GARD.

' FURNITURE GASTER. No. 384.837. Patented June 19, 1888.

3 Q m m m mm e v M NT T UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. GARD, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

FU RN ITU RE-CASTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 384,837, dated June 19, 1888.

Application filed February 25, 1888. Serial No. 265,236. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

. Be it known that I, 'WILLIAM E. GARD, re

sidingat Meriden, Connecticut, have invented.

certain new and useful Improvements in Furniture-Casters, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof.

My invention relates to casters for furniture of all descriptions, and has for its objects to simplifythe construction thereof, to render them stronger and therefore less liable to break under the heavy strain brought upon them while in use, and to make them of a considerably less number of parts.

\Vith these objects in view, my invention consists in the improved constructiomarrange the spring being struck out of the same metal as the socket.

Like letters of reference mark the same parts in all the figures.

' Referring to the drawings by letters, A marks the lower part of a furniture-leg properl y bored to receive a caster.

B is the wheel. of the caster, mounted on a pin, 1), journaled in a fork at the lower end of the pintle C,which is provided at its upper end (or it may be better called its inner end) with a ball, 0, made in one piece therewith.

Dis a combined socket, ferrule, and detaining-spring, struck up from sheet metal in a single piece, the socket being marked (2, the ferrule e, and the spring f. The part c, which I have denominated the ferrule, is termed by some in the furniture trade the trackplate.

The operation of my invention will be readily understood from an inspection of the drawings. The socket is driven inthe bore in the leg, the ferrule e serving to prevent the splitting or other injury thereof, and is especially useful before the caster-pintle is put on, serving as a smooth base upon which to slide the furniture. To apply the wheel, it is only necessary to'push the pintle in until the ball on its inner end passes the end of the sprmg, which holds it in place while the ball has its bearing on the inner end of the socket.whereby the swiveling of the stem is provided for.

In the caster-sockets and track-plate heretofore made there are many objections which my invention overcomes.

First. The socketsheretofore made (and used in connection with a track-plate) are constructed in two halves vertically, and when the two halves are driven into the wood they frequently lap over each, either on account of the hole being improperly bored or the wood being of unequal density, and this lapping over causes the caster-pintle to bind, and the caster will not turn. My invention overcomes this objection, inasmuch as the socket is in one piece, and no matter how its hole is bored or what the density of the wood it is impossible to change the size of the orifice for the caster-pi ntle.

Second. The sockets heretofore made are of cast-iron, (either malleable or gray,) and, as in the case with all castings, no two are eX- actly alike and many are imperfect, so that in some cases the sockets split the wood in driving in, and in other cases the sockets are so loose as to drop out, while m1ne,be1ng formed in a die, are all perfect and alike.

Third. In the work of a furniture-factory, where these things are put in, the element of time is a great consideration, and mine,being all in one piece, is quickly and easily fitted, while those of two or more pieces require time and patience to pick up, adjust, and put together. I

What I claim as new,and desire to sccureby Letters Patent of the United States, is"

1. In a furniturecaster, the combination, with the pintle having a knob at its lnner end, of'the combined socket and ferrule made in a single piece and provided with a detaining-spring, as set forth.

2. In combination, the pintle, and the combined socket'and ferrule struck up from a single piece of'metal, as set forth.

In testimony whereof Ihereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

YVILLIAM E. GARD.

Witnesses:

S. BRASHEARS, J. H. HAPP. 

